Thankfulness is more than counting our blessings.



November is the month when we naturally turn our attention to thankfulness. As we approach Thanksgiving we reflect on the blessings in our lives, gather with family and friends, and give thanks for all we have. But I believe thankfulness is much more than counting our blessings. It is an attitude, a mindset, and a choice we make every day, regardless of our circumstances.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 reminds us, "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

Notice it says in all circumstances, not for all circumstances. There is a big difference.

I will never thank God that Marc lost his life serving our country. That is a pain no mother should ever have to experience. However, I will forever thank Him for being with me every step of the way. I thank Him for the gift of Marc's teammates, who became family and helped me understand the special bond of the Brotherhood he so often talked about. I thank Him for taking the devastation of my loss and giving me a new purpose and passion through the founding of America's Mighty Warriors.

Over the years, I have witnessed how God can bring purpose out of pain and how Marc's life and his final letter home continue to make an impact. What began as a mother's response to an unimaginable loss has grown into a mission that is literally saving lives. Through our Helping Heroes Heal Program, we have veterans who have told us they would not be alive today if it weren't for America's Mighty Warriors and the healing therapies we provided. We are helping veterans reclaim their lives, restore families, and find hope when they had nearly given up. This is not simply about providing services; it is about giving men and women who have sacrificed so much another opportunity to live full and meaningful lives.

I am also incredibly thankful for the people who walk alongside us and make this mission possible. Our board members, staff, volunteers, donors, and supporters are so much more than people who contribute to an organization. You are an essential part of this mission. Your generosity, commitment, time, and willingness to serve allow us to say yes when a veteran needs help, when a Gold Star family needs support, and when someone needs to know they haven't been forgotten. Together, we are changing the trajectory of lives and families.

Every life saved, every family restored, and every veteran given another chance at life is a reminder of what we can accomplish when people come together for something bigger than themselves. Thank you for making that possible.

As we recognize Veterans Day this month, I hope we will pause to remember that the freedoms we enjoy every day came at a tremendous cost. Behind every uniform is a story of sacrifice. There are service members who have missed birthdays, holidays, and precious moments with their families. There are spouses who carry the responsibilities of home while their loved ones are deployed. There are children who grow up missing a parent. There are veterans who continue to carry the visible and invisible wounds of their service. There are Gold Star families who live with an empty chair and a lifetime of missing someone they love.



My own family knows that sacrifice. My sons Kristofer and Marc, my son-in-law Christopher, and my brother Jim chose to serve this country, and Marc made the ultimate sacrifice. I will never take for granted the freedoms we enjoy or the families who sacrifice so much to protect them.

Thankfulness should be more than a feeling or something we express once a year. It should move us to action. It should change how we treat others, how we serve, and how we live our lives.

Perhaps one of the greatest expressions of thankfulness is recognizing that the blessings we've been given aren't meant to stop with us. We have an opportunity and a responsibility to pass them on. Whether it's encouraging someone who is struggling, serving a veteran, remembering a Gold Star family, or simply showing kindness to a stranger, we can make a difference.

Marc's final letter home included a request to his family and friends: "Pass on the love, the kindness, the precious gift of human life." Those words have become the heartbeat of America's Mighty Warriors and a reminder that each of us has something to give.

This Thanksgiving, I encourage you to remember that thankfulness is a choice. It isn't dependent on how much we have, how well things are going, or whether life has turned out the way we expected. Even in difficult seasons, there is always something we can thank God for and someone whose life we can make a little better.

One simple way to put thankfulness into action is to remember GPS:

• G – GRATITUDE: Start each morning by identifying one thing you are thankful for. Train your mind to recognize the blessings, even in the simplest things.
• P – PHYSICAL: Move your body every day. Take a walk, exercise, get outside, and keep moving. Even small steps can make a difference.
• S – SERVE: Do something for someone else. A meal, a visit, a kind word, or a simple act of kindness can make a difference in someone's life.

Let's not just count our blessings this Thanksgiving. Let's pass them on.

Thank you for being part of this journey, for believing in our mission, and for helping us honor those who have sacrificed so much.

May you and your families have a blessed Thanksgiving!

With a thankful heart,



Debbie Lee aka MommaLee

Marc gave his last breath defending the freedoms we enjoy every day. He and so many others never had the opportunity to see what tomorrow would bring. We cannot give them another tomorrow, but we can honor the sacrifice they made by what we choose to do today. As you plan your year-end giving, I ask you to consider America’s Mighty Warriors. 96% of every dollar we receive goes directly back to serving our military families through our life-changing programs. Together, we can ensure their sacrifice continues to make a difference.

Kaui's Korner

A Mission Worth Sharing

One of the greatest privileges of leading our Helping Heroes Heal Program is witnessing the transformation of the warriors who come through it.

Many have spent years battling the invisible wounds of war, often believing that the struggles they face are simply their new normal. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Recently, one of our veterans shared something that really stuck with me:

“Life is still lifing but I am in so much better position to handle it and I feel more like how I used to be.”

That’s what this mission is all about. Life doesn’t stop throwing challenges our way, but helping our warriors regain clarity, confidence, and a sense of themselves again can make all the difference for their life and family.

These aren’t just success stories. They’re fathers, mothers, husbands, wives, and friends getting pieces of their lives back.

But I often wonder, how many more are out there struggling in silence, unaware that help is available?

If you’re a combat veteran struggling with PTS or TBI, please reach out. And if you know someone who is struggling help us spread the word. Sometimes one conversation can change the course of someone’s life.

You fought for us. Now let us fight for you.

Stay the course—and Stay Mighty,

Kaui

PS: Just last week we approved 5 new applications for our Helping Heroes Heal Program. That's over $100,000.00 in medical costs. Let us know if you can sponsor a veteran or part of his healing journey.

Do you have property or professional services you would consider donating?

AMW’s search continues for a property to establish a retreat and wellness center, a place of hope, healing, and connection for those we serve. We are grateful for the donation for plumbing, concrete, dumpsters, window blinds and environmental testing already committed to help bring this vision to life. We would love to hear from you. Your generosity could help create a lasting place of healing and renewal. Please email us americasmightywarriors@gmail.com